KAYMOOR, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Located deep in the New River Gorge in Fayette County is the Kaymoor Miners Trail, a one-mile strenuous trail with stairs and switchbacks that lead you to a now-forgotten world.
Kaymoor, founded in 1899 by the Low Moor Iron Company, was one of the many coal towns that lined the New River Gorge and is known for being the last operating mine in the Gorge as it shut down in 1961.
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Kaymoor had two communities, Kaymoor Top and Kaymoor Bottom. Kaymoor Top, located along the rim of the New River Gorge, was the first mine and community established and was opened in 1899 by the Low Moor Iron Company.
Kaymoor Bottom was later established two miles down from Kaymoor Top near the C&O mainline.
The Low Moor Iron Company was based out of Virginia and the community of Low Moor still exists today off I-64.
The town was named after the first mine superintendent James Kay and the Low Moor Iron Company. The two names were combined to make Kaymoor.
Kaymoor featured an extensive mining operation, multiple homes, a company store, schools, churches, and even a movie theatre.
Now, the former town of Kaymoor serves as a destination for hikers and explorers alike. The Kaymoor Miners Trailhead starts near Gatewood Road and descends the steep and rugged Gorge.
Once traversing the first half-mile of steep terrain and switchbacks, you will arrive at the first mine portal where remnants of mining operations can be seen.
One will be greeted by an old sign stating “Your family wants you to work safely,” a daily reminder that miners witnessed each time before going down in the mine.
After exploring the remnants on the rim of the Gorge, one will be met with what looks like an endless set of steps that appear to lead to nowhere.
But those 821 steps do lead somewhere, they lead to the now-forgotten world of Kaymoor Bottom.
The farther you walk down, the farther back in time you go.
Once arriving at Kaymoor Bottom after overcoming the 821 steps, one will be amazed at what remains of the once-booming town that was home to hundreds at one time.
Winter makes for a great but eery time to visit as the overgrowth is not as rampant as it is during the summer months which allows for better exploration of what remains.
To get to the trailhead from US 19, follow WV 16 south through Fayetteville. Turn left on Gatewood Road (park signs indicate Kaymoor and Cunard).
Follow Gatewood Road 2.0 miles, and turn left at the Kaymoor sign (Kaymoor No. 1 Road). Follow this road about one mile to the “T” intersection; turn left. Parking is 50 yards on the right.
